Assessment of Standing Multi-Frequency Bioimpedance Analyzer to Measure Body Composition of the Whole Body and Limbs in Elite Male Wrestlers

We investigated differences in body composition measurements for the whole body and limb segments in elite male wrestlers between results of multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analyses (MF_BIA) and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Sixty-six elite male wrestlers from Taiwan were recruited. Wrestlers’ body fat percentage (PBF_WB), whole body fat-free mass (FFM_WB), whole body lean soft tissue mass (LSTM_WB), and fat-free mass of arms, legs and trunk (FM_Arms, FFM_Legs, FFM_Trunk) were measured by MF_BIA and DXA, and analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and Bland–Altman plot. Correlations of FFM_WB, LSTM_WB, and PBF_WB between devices were 0.958, 0.954, and 0.962, respectively. Limits of agreement (LOA) of Bland–Altman plot were −4.523 to 4.683 kg, −4.332 to 4.635 kg and −3.960 to 3.802%, respectively. Correlations of body composition parameters FFM_Arms, FFM_Legs and FFM_Turnk between devices in each limb segment were 0.237, 0.809, and 0.929, respectively; LOAs were −2.877 to 2.504 kg, −7.173 to −0.015 kg and −5.710 to 0.777 kg, respectively. Correlation and consistency between the devices are high for FFM, LSTM and PBF but relatively low for limb segment FFM. MF_BIA may be an alternative device to DXA for measuring male wrestlers’ total body composition but limb segment results should be used cautiously.